Mike Skinner to Race at Jennerstown
Jennerstown, Pa.-(July 14, 1999)-If
success is measured by the people surrounding you,
NASCAR Winston Cup driver Mike Skinner is at the top
of his game. He drives for one of the top owners in
the sport and is teammate to one of the greatest
stock-car racers of all time. Skinner will join
current Winston Cup stars Michael Waltrip and Hut
Stricklin, plus NASCAR legend Harry Gant in a Race
of Champions at Jennerstown Speedway Saturday, June
17th.
Skinner pilots the No. 31 Lowe's Chevrolet Monte
Carlo for team owner Richard Childress and is
teammate to seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale
Earnhardt. Childress is known throughout the NASCAR
circle as one of the top owners in the business, and
the Earnhardt name speaks for itself.
"When Skinner makes a personal appearance something
exciting is always bound to happen," Bruce Patrum,
President of Patrum Motor Racing Properties and
presenter of the Race of Champions, said. "He comes
to every track ready to win, whether its a Winston
Cup track like Daytona or a Race of Champions at
Jennerstown."
Skinner joined RCR in 1997, quickly proving his
racing talent by winning the pole position at the
first race of the season, the coveted Daytona 500.
Skinner rewrote the history books, after taking his
second pole at Daytona in the Pepsi 400 later that
season. He became the only rookie driver in NASCAR
history to win both Daytona poles in one season.
Skinner ended his rookie season, winning the Rookie
of the Year award and NASCAR Thunder race in Japan,
a special non-point race.
Following his rookie season Skinner raced to four
top-5 finishes and nine top-10 finishes, delegating
him to a 21st place point standing at season's end.
Skinner also continued his success overseas, again
winning the exhibition race in Japan.
Though Skinner has made a name for himself on the
Winston Cup circuit, where he currently sits tied
for 10th in points, he arguably built the Craftsman
Truck series. Skinner won the inaugural championship
in 1995, scoring a series high eight victories. He
repeated his eight wins in 1996 but fell short of
the series title.
Skinner will drive a Late Model, owned locally by
Broadway Motorsports, at Jennerstown. His background
stems from a dirt track racing career on the West
Coast where he won three track championships and 66
races. Skinner's Late Model experience will
definitely give him an edge on Jennerstown's
half-mile oval, and Gant, Waltrip an Stricklin will
have to step up to the plate.
"Mike Skinner is one of NASCAR's biggest stars,"
Speedway Manager Bob Duvall said. "He has a
reputation for being an aggressive driver. Love him
or hate him, Skinner is sure to give the fans quite
a show."
Gates for Winston Cup Night will open at 4 p.m.
Public autographs will be held from 6-7:30 p.m.
Super Six features will begin at 7:30 p.m., and the
Race of Champions will start at 8:15 p.m. and
following its conclusion, Super Six features will
resume. Ticket orders are now being taken. SAVE $5
by ordering in advance or pay $20 at the gate.
Children 12 and under are FREE throughout July. Call
the Speedway Office for details at (814)629-6677.
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